Control Essentials Series

Written by the editors of Control, our new Control Essentials series is designed to provide process industry professionals with an up-to-date, top-level understanding of a range of key process automation topics. Our intent is to present essential engineering concepts in a practical, non-commercial fashion, together with a review of the latest technology and marketplace drivers—all in a form factor well suited for onscreen consumption. Get in and get out quickly with just the information you need.

Essentials of batch automation

Brush up on batch fundamentals and learn about improving visibility using flexible configuration and gaining advantages from distributed batch control. This new Essentials Guide from the editors of Control and sponsored by Honeywell covers terminology and models, ISA88 in practice, visibility to improve productivity, flexible configuration, and distributed batch control. Download now.

Essentials of tank gauging

Tank gauging focuses on static quantity measurement of liquids in bulk storage. Measurements may be either level- or pressure-based, and usually must be converted to standard mass or volume units by correcting for temperature and/or pressure. This edition of the ControlEssentials series, discusses up-to-date, top-level tank gauging information and tackles both inventory control and custody transfer issues. Download now.

Essentials of the Modern DCS

Control's Essentials series, written by our editors, presents critical engineering concepts in a practical, non-commercial fashion, together with a review of the latest technology and marketplace drivers. This edition discusses modern DCS implementations and why they should enable plantwide control and optimization, scalability and modularity for engineering flexibility and faster time to market. Download now.

Essentials of the Connected Enterprise

This next in Control's Essentials series, "Essentials of the Connected Enterprise" provides industrial automation professionals with up-to-date information on the advances in communications and computing technology. The rise of the Internet of Things, Big Data & Analytics, and the Cloud promise to accelerate the creation of what Rockwell Automation refers to as “the connected enterprise.” Learn more about essential engineering concepts in this practical, non-commercial brief, in a form factor well suited for onscreen consumption. Download now.

Essentials of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is an acknowledged and growing threat to the operational integrity of process manufacturing and other critical infrastructure sectors. Ensuring cybersecurity begins with assessment and remediation of the current state, but carries through to incident detection, management and continued assurance measures throughout an asset's lifecycle. In this concise Technology Brief, the Editors of Control Magazine discuss this topic and review the latest technology developments that are available to reduce the risks of viruses, malware and cybersecurity threats. Download now.

Essentials of Big Data, Distributed

Over the past several yeas, the promise of "big data" has captured the imagination of mainstream analysts and the business press. For them, big data underlies the next generation of information-driven enterprises for which decision-making will increasingly be driven by sophisicated algorithms acting on enormous and growing volumes of data thrown off by myriad interconnected digital systems. Download now.

Essentials of Local Visualization

Far from the air-conditioned comfort of a central control room, operators on the go often need local display and visualization of process conditions, and must interact with manufacturing processes and equipment on a local basis. This Essentials Guide to local visualization explores the key considerations involved in specifying a local visualization solution, including such aspects as core functionality, modular extensions and accessories, ease of deployment and integration with other plant systems. Download now.

Essentials of Dynamic Simulation

This Essentials Guide from the editors of Control discusses how dynamic simulators can be used to both reduce risk and improve profitability throughout a plant's full lifecycle — from testing and troubleshooting of control logic, through experiential training of plant operators. Among the topics discussed are measures of ROI and the impact of simulator architecture on model integrity and maintainability. Download now.

Essentials of Industrial Ethernet

In this latest installment of Control's Essentials series, the editors tackle the basics of Industrial Ethernet--what it is that makes the world's leading networking technology increasingly suitable for use in plant-floor applications. We review the many protocol "flavors" of Industrial Ethernet that have evolved over the years to overcome limitations of standard Ethernet. Also discussed is the need for industrial hardening of network components such as switches, cordsets and remote I/O modules. Download now.

Essentials of Flow Measurement

The basis of good flowmeter selection is a clear understanding of the requirements of the particular application. Therefore, time should be invested in fully evaluating the nature of the process fluid and of the overall installation. The development of specifications that state the application requirements should be a systematic, step-by-step process. In this Essentials guide, the editors of Control walk through the alternatives, explain how to narrow your choices and uncover the latest application trends. Download now.

Intrinsic Safety Demystified

Over the past several decades, intrinsic safety has established itself as the preferred method of explosion protection for global energy and petrochemical projects. This latest installment in Control's "Essentials of" series explains the ins and outs of intrinsic safety technology, how it compares with other methods of explosion protection, and new technology development poised to increase the scope of its application to higher energy systems. Download now.

Essentials of Level Instrumentation

The task of determining just how much material is in a tank, reactor or other container really doesn't seem like it ought to be such a difficult task. But when faced with the question, the instrumentation engineer has at his disposal a surprising range of sensor technology options. In this Essentials guide, the editors of Control walk through the alternatives, explain how to narrow your choices and uncover the latest application trends. Download this document.

Essentials of Safety Instrumented Systems

This Control Essentials Guide is the first in a continuing series of interactive PDFs by the editors of Control. Essentials of Safety Instrumented Systems is designed to provide process industry professionals with an up-to-date, top-level understanding of the most important SIS issues. From fundamental concepts and terminology to the ongoing debate over integrated vs. stand-alone safety systems, get up to speed quickly on the key technology and marketplace drivers. Download now.

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